When next you feel the impulse to continually shout at your kids and their coaches from the sidelines during a football match, please think about how you would feel if your boss at work did it to you!
Please let the coach coach and let your son/daughter enjoy what they are doing as part of a team. As a sponsor, volunteer, or parent, paying registration fees at your club should NEVER entitle you to turn up whenever you feel like it; it does not entitle you to miss a large part of a season; paying fees does not guarantee your son/daughter any special treatment, or selection into the teams beyond their capability.
Turning up late at training disrupts other players who are punctual. Young players cannot be responsible for being punctual for training and games because YOU drive the vehicle, not your kids.
Can you handle the truth? Coaches can tell you what you want to hear or they can tell you the truth. The truth may be: “Your child lacks the coordination skills, and is not up to this level. Clearly, he/she does not want to be here and is doing it to please you.”
Can you handle that?
Some, if not many, parents sell their children to be well above what they really are.
I am always very tempted to replay by saying: “I know little Johnny is a born winner. He clearly takes after you. I know he was named after your favourite player. I also appreciate that his uncle played for the Timbuktu Rangers reserves in the season they cruised to the local league title back in the day. Clearly with such a pedigree you know your football”.
I can assure you most if not all coaches would love to be so blunt, but in this day and age, being honest just will not cut it.
In any case it would be a waste of time because some parents will continue to change clubs until they get the response they want.
Coaches deal with many issues throughout the season and deserve respect.
